Woman sues jail authority, officers for sexual misconduct

CHARLESTON -- A woman is suing the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority and two correctional officers after she claims she was sexually harassed and abused while she was incarcerated.

An unknown man was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Terri Ricketts was an inmate in the Eastern Regional Jail and during her incarceration, she was sexually harassed and abused by C.O. Kesner and C.O. Bullock, according to a complaint filed Aug. 10 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Ricketts claims the defendants owed a dity to her to provide a reasonably safe confinement facility and a duty to properly hire, trian, retain and supervise its correctional officers.

The jail authority knew or should have known that the correction officers and John Doe failed to comply with the law and standards required by a staff member in their positions, according to the suit.

Ricketts claims she has suffered anxiety; humiliation; annoyance and inconvenience; invasion of privacy; emotional distress; pain and suffering; mental anguish; loss of her ability to enjoy life; future medical and pharmaceutical expenses; and other damages.

Rickets is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by Matthew J. Woelfel.